More Images

Pesticide tainting water sources in Dana

Joe Suarez, who lives off East Hill Drive, said tests last year showed his well water contained 0.086 parts per billion of the insecticide dieldrin. The state standard for dieldrin is no more than 0.002 parts per billion.

Michael Dirks/Times-News

By Mark SchulmanTimes-News Staff Writer

Published: Friday, February 1, 2013 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, January 31, 2013 at 8:52 p.m.

DANA — At least a dozen drinking-water wells in the Academy Road area in Dana have been contaminated by an insecticide once used to control termites, and state environmental officials are working to help affected homeowners find alternative water sources.

The chemical, dieldrin, was used from 1950 to 1987 to control termites around house foundations and other structures. Before it was banned in 1987, it also was used to control flies, mosquitoes and bed bugs, as well as insect pests in corn, cotton, fruit and vegetable crops.

A state toxicologist will perform a health risk assessment for affected homeowners. So far, officials say they aren't aware of any health-related issues from the contaminated wells.

The state standard for dieldrin is no more than 0.002 parts per billion in drinking water, said Landon Davidson with the Asheville Regional Office for the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Tests showed well water at Joe Suarez's home off East Hill Drive contained 0.086 parts per billion. DENR performed the tests this past August and October.

Suarez has lived at the house with his two sons for about six years. They get their drinking water from a water cooler, and Suarez said DENR officials have been extremely helpful.

"It is no one's fault," said Suarez, who received the test results a couple of weeks ago.

He is taking the situation in stride and is eager to learn more information at a Thursday meeting focused on helping those with contaminated wells. He's also certain environmental agencies will do everything they can to help him and his neighbors.

"I don't anticipate any problems," Suarez said.

Additional chemicals found in the drinking water that exceed state and federal standards include chlordane, endrin keytone and heptachlor epoxide. Those have been banned since the late 1980s.

The problem was discovered in August and October when the Division of Water Quality sampled wells in the Academy Road area. Last December, health officials confirmed that 12 out of 13 residential wells contained pesticides above the health-based standard. The wells are off of East Hill Drive, Offense Lane, Emerald Lane and Academy Road.

Four additional wells sampled by DWQ were above the standard, but those results still require confirmation. DENR officials will be testing 28 more wells in that area over the next couple of weeks. Results could take 30 to 45 days.

Ronnie and Rebecca Owen of Emerald Lane have been living in their home for 37 years, and they drink water from the tap.

"If something would've happened to us, it probably would have happened by now," Rebecca Owen said, but the couple is considering other options for drinking water.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends installing a filter containing granular carbon. If individuals drink city water or bottled water but use well water for other purposes, DWQ or the state toxicologist still might recommend water use restrictions.

DWQ is working with the Division of Waste Management, the Henderson County Department of Public Health and the Department of Health and Human Services Epidemiology Division to investigate the extent of the contamination — both in the area affected and the type of chemicals.

"Our goal is to help residents in any way we can," said Seth Swift, environmental health supervisor for the county.

Several agencies will gather from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Dana Elementary to meet with homeowners.

"I think this is a good opportunity to get answers from experts," Swift said.

They will explain what is happening with the testing, the future of the testing and any health questions.

"This is a very informative event where everyone (from different agencies) is in the same room," Swift said.

The testing is part of a countywide investigation that began in 2008 to determine where groundwater could be vulnerable to pesticides and insecticides. The chemicals could have entered the wells from soils due to fractures in the bedrock, improper well construction, damage to wells, spills or an accidental back-siphoning of the pesticide into a well while mixing it with water, according the DENR website.

The insecticides were used for a wide variety of agricultural and residential purposes for many decades, and officials said it would take further investigation to find the origin.

DENR officials said the best way to know whether a well has been contaminated is to have the water analyzed by a certified laboratory, which is free if the DWQ determines the well should be sampled as part of the investigation.

The DWQ is focused on determining the extent of the contamination and informing residents in the general area of the problem. DWQ also is working with local, state and federal agencies to explore drinking water solutions for affected homeowners.

The Bernard Allen Memorial Fund provides alternate water to well owners affected by contaminated groundwater where a responsible party cannot be identified. The fund is for North Carolina homeowners who might not be able to afford drinking water.

For information on well testing, contact the Henderson County Health Department, Environmental Health Section, at 828-692-4223 or a private analytical lab certified to do pesticide and volatile organics analysis.

For more general information, visit the N.C. DENR website or call the Asheville Regional Office at 828-296-4500. For more information about health risk evaluations or other health questions related to this investigation, call the state Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch office at 919-707-5900.

<p>DANA — At least a dozen drinking-water wells in the Academy Road area in Dana have been contaminated by an insecticide once used to control termites, and state environmental officials are working to help affected homeowners find alternative water sources.</p><p>The chemical, dieldrin, was used from 1950 to 1987 to control termites around house foundations and other structures. Before it was banned in 1987, it also was used to control flies, mosquitoes and bed bugs, as well as insect pests in corn, cotton, fruit and vegetable crops. </p><p>A state toxicologist will perform a health risk assessment for affected homeowners. So far, officials say they aren't aware of any health-related issues from the contaminated wells. </p><p>The state standard for dieldrin is no more than 0.002 parts per billion in drinking water, said Landon Davidson with the Asheville Regional Office for the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Tests showed well water at Joe Suarez's home off East Hill Drive contained 0.086 parts per billion. DENR performed the tests this past August and October.</p><p>Suarez has lived at the house with his two sons for about six years. They get their drinking water from a water cooler, and Suarez said DENR officials have been extremely helpful.</p><p>"It is no one's fault," said Suarez, who received the test results a couple of weeks ago.</p><p>He is taking the situation in stride and is eager to learn more information at a Thursday meeting focused on helping those with contaminated wells. He's also certain environmental agencies will do everything they can to help him and his neighbors.</p><p>"I don't anticipate any problems," Suarez said.</p><p>Additional chemicals found in the drinking water that exceed state and federal standards include chlordane, endrin keytone and heptachlor epoxide. Those have been banned since the late 1980s.</p><p>The problem was discovered in August and October when the Division of Water Quality sampled wells in the Academy Road area. Last December, health officials confirmed that 12 out of 13 residential wells contained pesticides above the health-based standard. The wells are off of East Hill Drive, Offense Lane, Emerald Lane and Academy Road. </p><p>Four additional wells sampled by DWQ were above the standard, but those results still require confirmation. DENR officials will be testing 28 more wells in that area over the next couple of weeks. Results could take 30 to 45 days.</p><p>Ronnie and Rebecca Owen of Emerald Lane have been living in their home for 37 years, and they drink water from the tap.</p><p>"If something would've happened to us, it probably would have happened by now," Rebecca Owen said, but the couple is considering other options for drinking water.</p><p>The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends installing a filter containing granular carbon. If individuals drink city water or bottled water but use well water for other purposes, DWQ or the state toxicologist still might recommend water use restrictions.</p><p>DWQ is working with the Division of Waste Management, the Henderson County Department of Public Health and the Department of Health and Human Services Epidemiology Division to investigate the extent of the contamination — both in the area affected and the type of chemicals. </p><p>"Our goal is to help residents in any way we can," said Seth Swift, environmental health supervisor for the county. </p><p>Several agencies will gather from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Dana Elementary to meet with homeowners.</p><p>"I think this is a good opportunity to get answers from experts," Swift said.</p><p>They will explain what is happening with the testing, the future of the testing and any health questions. </p><p>"This is a very informative event where everyone (from different agencies) is in the same room," Swift said.</p><p>The testing is part of a countywide investigation that began in 2008 to determine where groundwater could be vulnerable to pesticides and insecticides. The chemicals could have entered the wells from soils due to fractures in the bedrock, improper well construction, damage to wells, spills or an accidental back-siphoning of the pesticide into a well while mixing it with water, according the DENR website. </p><p>The insecticides were used for a wide variety of agricultural and residential purposes for many decades, and officials said it would take further investigation to find the origin. </p><p>DENR officials said the best way to know whether a well has been contaminated is to have the water analyzed by a certified laboratory, which is free if the DWQ determines the well should be sampled as part of the investigation.</p><p>The DWQ is focused on determining the extent of the contamination and informing residents in the general area of the problem. DWQ also is working with local, state and federal agencies to explore drinking water solutions for affected homeowners.</p><p>The Bernard Allen Memorial Fund provides alternate water to well owners affected by contaminated groundwater where a responsible party cannot be identified. The fund is for North Carolina homeowners who might not be able to afford drinking water.</p><p>For information on well testing, contact the Henderson County Health Department, Environmental Health Section, at 828-692-4223 or a private analytical lab certified to do pesticide and volatile organics analysis. </p><p>For more general information, visit the N.C. DENR website or call the Asheville Regional Office at 828-296-4500. For more information about health risk evaluations or other health questions related to this investigation, call the state Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch office at 919-707-5900.</p><p>Reach Schulman at 828-694-7890 or mark.schulman@blueridgenow.com.</p>